Catheter having a funnel-shaped occlusion balloon of uniform thickness and methods of manufacture

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for removing emboli during an angioplasty, stenting or surgical procedure comprising a catheter having a funnel-shaped occlusion balloon of uniform thickness disposed on a distal end of the catheter. The occlusion balloon is fused to the distal end so that it provides a substantially seamless flow transition into a working lumen of the catheter. Additionally, a distal edge of the occlusion balloon is configured to be in close proximity with an inner wall of a vessel to facilitate blood flow into the catheter and efficiently remove emboli.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 418,727, filed Oct. 15, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,423,032, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 333,074, filed Jun. 14, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,868, which is a continuation-in-part of International Application PCT / US99 / 05469, filed Mar. 12, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 078,263, filed May 13, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,235.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to apparatus and methods for removing emboli during vascular interventions. More particularly, the apparatus and methods of the present invention provide a catheter having an occlusion balloon of uniform thickness that facilitates retrograde flow and removes emboli from a treatment vessel via a funnel-shaped taper of the occlusion balloon.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Today there is a growing need...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for removing emboli from a vessel comprising an occlusion balloon of uniform thickness to enhance manufacturability of the occlusion balloon.

[0012]It further is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for removing emboli from a vessel comprising a catheter having an occlusion balloon of uniform thickness that facilitates retrograde flow and efficiently removes emboli.

[0015]In the deployed state, the occlusion balloon is configured to extend distal of the catheter and provides a funnel-shaped transition into the working lumen of the catheter. A distal edge of the occlusion balloon is configured to be in close proximity with an inner wall of a vessel to facilitate retrograde flow into the working lumen of the catheter and efficiently remove emboli. Additionally, because the occlusion balloon of the present invention comprises a uniform thickness, the balloon may be more reliable, easier to manufacture and more cost-effective than an occlusion balloon having a variable thickness along its length.

Problems solved by technology

Generally during these procedures there is a high opportunity for the release of embolic material.

The emboli may travel downstream from the occlusion, lodging deep within the vascular bed and causing ischemia.

The resulting ischemia may pose a serious threat to the health or life of a patient if the blockage forms in a critical area, such as the heart, lungs, or brain.

These previously known occlusion balloons, however, have various drawbacks, including variability in deployment of the balloon to the desired shape, inefficiency in removing emboli, and / or high cost and complicated processes associated with manufacturing the balloon.

Such processes, however, can lead to variability in the final product due to the manufacturing process.

Because variable thickness balloons present greater difficulties during manufacture than balloons having uniform wall thickness, the cost of such balloons may be higher.

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